The trio, aged between 21 and 23, were not required to enter a plea to the charge and the case has been referred to the DPP to prosecute. If convicted, the trio face a maximum of 20 years imprisonment.

Magistrate Michael Holmes formally refused bail and order the trio to front court again in February.

CCTV footage from inside the service station

Police will allege one of the men and a woman entered the Shell service station in Church Street, Glen Innes, on Monday night armed with a carving knife and threatened a 26-year-old man working behind the counter.

They then allegedly stole a cash register and fled along with the other man who police will allege was a waiting outside.